CFIF to benefit from shared service facilities program

CEBU, Philippines – Members of the Cebu Furniture Industries Foundation Inc. (CFIF) will soon benefit from the government’s shared service facilities (SSF) program, as the group’s application is now being evaluated by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).

The Cebu provincial office of DTI has recently endorsed CFIF’s proposal to avail of the SSF program to help micro and small enterprises in the furniture sector sustain their businesses, while they are starting to shift intensive promotion in the regional and local markets.

Last year, DTI-7 announced the availability of the SSF and machineries program for use by micro and small enterprises in their respective areas.

CFIF is one of the industry organizations that responded to the program in Central Visayas.

In Central Visayas, there are already 13 SSFs approved and ready for public bidding based on the report submitted by DTI.

In Cebu, these include coco twine/coir production, decorticating machine, modernized and eco-friendly production facility.

In Bohol, approved SSFs include the shared service facility for the kalamay industry of Jagna and Alburquerque, meat processing project of Catigbian, ginger processing project of Loboc, Raffia competitiveness and productivity enhancement program, shared service facility for the Bicao Farmers Multi-Purpose Cooperative Food Processors and shared service facility for Dauis Fine Jewelry.

For Negros Oriental, they have the bamboo processing center while for Siquijor, they have a food processing and labeling center, enhancement of the community-based Larena woodcraft industry and SSF for bayong production.

She added that SSFs are meant to improve the capability of micro enterprises in the processing of raw materials, improve their productivity and quality and to address gaps in supply and value chain.

Last year, DTI secretary Gregory Domingo announced that the government will put up 1,000 shared services facilities for SMEs throughout the country to help the budding entrepreneurs cut on production costs.

These facilities are targeted to be established in the country’s 609 poorest municipalities.

Through these facilities, SMEs could opt not to purchase equipment and other production requirements and instead use the available machines and services offered by the government.

The shared services facilities would serve existing SMEs, but not start-ups. /JMD (FREEMAN)